Starter Villain
by John Scalzi
Charlie is a former businesss journalist who is barely getting by as a part-time substitute teacher. Then his Uncle Jake, who owns lots of parking garages and whom Charlie scarcely knows, dies unexpectedly. It turns out that, in addition to the parking garages, Jake owned a volcanic tropical island filled with scientists and technicians. There are smart cats (who are savvy real-estate investors). The dolphins (who are jackasses) are going out on strike, and all the other supervillains of the world want to have a quiet word with Charlie. Or, maybe they just want to blow him to bits.